"Growing" quilted pillow 15"x15"

"Growing" front panel

 This is the second pillow I finished recently. I love the red fabric. It has such a rich hue. I do not know where the name came from. The vertical stripes on the front panel remind me of vegetation, but the back panel has horizontal orientation. I suppose I could think of growing sideways that happens to lot of us with aging... or not.

"Growing" back panel

"Ladders" quilted pillow 15"x15"

"Ladders" front panel

Overwhelmed by events, finally I have completed this design. I am getting adjusted to having less time sewing, not painting, but gardening instead and then recupperating my sore body. The weather is spectacular and so I love being outdoors.

"Ladders" back panel

Pillows are ready for Raven Rocks Gallery

I feel like a proud mama with all of her nine babies. I am taking the pillows to the local gallery and must admit that I feel little sad letting them go. They will be there for couple months to test public interest. I am really pleased with how they turned out and whatever the outcome, they will always be welcomed home.

Sweatshirt renewal

 I took a class on how to turn a sweatshirt into a jacket. Charlie gave me his old work sweatshirt and  cut it all at the seams to place and sew fabrics on top. At times, this was really difficult, because the shirt was stretched out way too much. If I ever do that again, I would use a new sweatshirt, though I promised myself to not do that again. But who knows, I never seem to know where my interest leads me next and so I would not be surprised to begin another one, this time cutting it in the middle of the front to make a jacket, as the teacher wanted us to do. I did not want to go there with weirdly stretched fabric and so it remained a pullover jacket. Below, is the beginning of the back. The sleeves are still attached and I did have to cut them off eventually, because they would not lie flat when the whole thing was opened up for sewing.

"Looking in" and "Looking out" quilted pillows

"Looking out" front panel, 15"x15"

"Looking out" back panel, "15"x15"

"Looking in" front panel, 15"x15"

"Looking in" back panel, 15"x15"

Finally, I was able to sew again. I have not been feeling well and now I feel better. I am grateful. I do not have much to say, except having regrets that I have almost used up all the dark fabric with the leaves on it. I am not able to replenish the supply. Alas, that is what happens in the world of batiks, so I am told. 

"Reflections" quilted pillow 15"x15"

"Reflections" front

 Number 7 of 12 to make was finished yesterday. Life is speeding by incredibly fast. I have been quite busy with many other things that I need to attend to. Hopefully, I will begin a new pillow soon. I am also beginning to stir inside about painting again.

"Reflections" back

"Golden Gate" quilted pillow 15"X15"

"Golden Gate" front panel

The other day, I wanted to learn how to work with triangles. I sewed a few squares using four triangles in each. I enjoyed the precision it required for the points to meet. That was fun, but the result was very boring to me. The greatest fun came from slicing the squares and making something more interesting. The red lines reminded me of San Francisco Golden Gate bridge and thus the title. The back panel is below.

"Golden Gate" back panel